The Australian skipper has taken 309 Test scalps in 71 appearances with an average of 22.10.
The Australian chief selector George Bailey has declared that captain Pat Cummins will be a central figure in the forthcoming Ashes series.
Speculation had been growing that the veteran bowler might be unavailable due to a stress fracture in his back that remained unresolved.
Previous updates from the squad suggested no official announcement had been made regarding Cummins' participation, with the extended contest set to start on November 21 in the WACA.
The selector shared that his recovery is on track and was "optimistic" about the likelihood of taking part.
"We're aware that the window is narrowing and multiple considerations involved, not just the physical problem, but additional elements," Bailey remarked.
"The outlook is good. [We are] really confident that he's going to play a key capacity. Ideally it's the first Test. Should that not happen, then we'll pick it up."
Past Concerns
Cummins was ruled out the white-ball matches against both Asian and Trans-Tasman rivals recently after scans revealed a stress reaction in his back.
Previous incidents include of spinal problems, with recurrences in multiple past seasons forcing him out of three Australian summers in four years.
He emphasized he would be bold in recovery efforts in his comeback strategy to ensure his availability for the Ashes.
Bailey noted that he did not know if he had started his bowling workouts as part of his comeback but admitted it was "becoming urgent" for him to recover fully for the first Test.
Backup Options
If he's unavailable, ex-skipper Smith will take over the captaincy.
All-rounder Cameron Green was excluded lately from the ODI lineup for their limited-overs matches against the subcontinent side as a precautionary measure because of an abdominal issue.
He labeled it as a "small issue and stated that he'll feature in the Sheffield Shield, so will be "well-prepared to resume bowling."
"Considerable effort has gone into creating the schedule for him to participate for the opening match as an dual-role player," the selector detailed.
"He was only going to play the first two ODIs anyway. His aggressive style the willow in shorter formats, if it causes any delay for a short period, the choice was made to take a cautious route."
Match Calendar
The Ashes: Australia v England
Spanning from late 2025 to early 2026
